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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Oilers Update - Sharks win. Yakupov - J. Schultz SCORE

Coming off of a shoot-out win over the weekend versus the Canucks, the Edmonton Oilers looked to extend their win streak to 2, but the visiting Sharks had other plans!

Head Coach, Todd McLellan perhaps had this to say to his troops before trouncing on the young Oilers.

"Let's go out there and trap them, and uh...I don't know... score...6 goals in the 1st period and we'll sit back and play more trap hockey. Sound good?"

Boring trap hockey it was and let's face it, those veteran Sharks utilized their system to a tee, but penalties killed the Oilers. In fact, the Sharks capitalized on 3 power-plays which ultimately deflated the Oilers' spirit by the time Patrick Marleau scored his second of the night nearly a minute after his first goal.

Oilers night minder, Devan Dubnyk was pulled after the first period, but no one can hang the loss on the goaltender.

“That five-on-three in the first five minutes killed us. We gave up
two goals and then turned the puck over and were running around, and
left Dubby out to dry.'" said Jordan Eberle who managed to earn two assists despite having a personal lack-luster game.

“We have to be a more mature team than that. It was definitely a
wake-up call. That was an awful first period. It was unacceptable. We
have to learn from it and use it to build character.”

6-3 Sharks

“If pain is going to make us a better team, than that’s a lot of pain
right there,” head coach Ralph Krueger said to the Edmonton media. “There
was an unbelievable lack of positioning. We apologize for the overall
score.”

Apology accepted. Oh, and thank-you for suiting up Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz! The two rookies shined brighter than the shiner on Ben Eager's face by scoring their first ever NHL goals.

photo credit Edmonton Journal

Nail Yakupov converted on the power-play with his patented one-timer to the left of the side of the goaltender. And if his release and timing is any indication of how good this kid will be for the Oilers, then watch-out. Yakupov has a lethal snap-shot and he will probably make a living scoring in that same position for years to come! And perhaps we'll see more of that same jubilant hockey dance after every goal.

photo credit Edmonton Journal

Justin Schultz blasted a one timer from the point to give the Oilers some life in the second. Schultz received a feathered pass from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to give the Oilers their second goal of the night.

The Oilers will now regroup and get ready to face the Los Angeles Kings this Thrusday.